To apply for CDCP, the Canadian Dental Care Plan, first check that you meet all four eligibility rules. Then apply online through My Service Canada Account, or call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342. Applications are open for the 2026 to 2027 benefit period (canada.ca). Once you are enrolled, you get a letter with your member ID and start date, and Sun Life mails your member card. You must renew every year. When you are ready to book, see how CDCP works at our clinic on our insurance and CDCP page.
The CDCP is a federal plan that helps eligible residents without dental insurance pay for care. Each step below comes from canada.ca and was checked in October 2026.
Who qualifies for the CDCP in 2026?
You must meet all four requirements (canada.ca):
- You have no access to private dental insurance or coverage. This includes a health spending account that covers dental costs.
- You filed your tax return in Canada. Your spouse or common-law partner must have filed too.
- Your adjusted family net income is less than $90,000.
- You are a Canadian resident for tax purposes, and so is your spouse or common-law partner.
Adjusted family net income starts with line 23600 of your tax return, plus your partner’s. Small adjustments are made for universal child care benefit and registered disability savings plan (RDSP) amounts.
Access to insurance counts even if you never use it, chose not to enrol, or pay a premium for it. There is one exception. Retirees who opted out of pension dental coverage before December 11, 2023, and cannot opt back in, may still qualify.
Before you apply, look at box 45 on your T4 slip, or box 015 on a T4A pension slip. A 1 means your employer or pension plan reported no access to dental coverage. A 2, 3, 4 or 5 means some coverage was offered to you or your family. Check your partner’s slips as well.
Dental coverage through a provincial, territorial or federal government program does not stop you from qualifying. In Alberta, the AISH program notes that its clients may also be eligible for CDCP (alberta.ca).
What you need before you apply
Have this information ready for yourself and each dependant (canada.ca):
- Social Insurance Number (SIN), including your child’s if they have one
- Date of birth
- Full name
- Home and mailing address
- Any dental coverage you have through a government program
Children are included in a parent’s application, and once covered they can use CDCP for checkups such as a child’s first dental visit. A spouse or common-law partner must send their own application to be covered. Your application still asks about your partner so Service Canada can confirm your marital status and family income.
How to apply for CDCP online
- Sign in to, or create, your My Service Canada Account (MSCA).
- On your MSCA dashboard, open the Canadian Dental Care Plan section.
- Select Apply for Canadian Dental Care Plan coverage and follow the instructions.
- Choose digital as your communication preference. You will get email notices and can read your CDCP letters in MSCA.
If you cannot use MSCA, canada.ca offers a separate online form. There is no fee to apply or renew, so be careful with messages asking for banking or credit card details.
How to apply by phone or with help
Call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342 to apply with an agent. The line is open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm local time, and closed on statutory holidays (canada.ca). TTY users can call 1-833-677-6262.
A trusted friend, relative or interpreter can help you apply with your clear consent. A delegate with legal authority to act for you, such as power of attorney, must first send proof of that authority to Service Canada.
What happens after you apply
You can check your status online or by phone using your application code or member ID.
If you are enrolled, Service Canada sends a letter by mail or email (canada.ca). It lists:
- Your CDCP plan number
- Your CDCP member ID
- Your benefit coverage start date
- Your co-payment level
A co-payment is the share of the CDCP fee that you pay yourself, based on your family income. Next, Sun Life mails you a welcome package with your physical member card. Sun Life is the company that pays CDCP claims to dental offices. You can also print a member card from a my Sun Life online account.
Do not book care before your start date. Only care you receive after that date is covered.
What to bring to your first CDCP dental visit
You do not need to wait for the Sun Life card. Bring these to your first appointment:
- Your CDCP member ID
- A piece of identification
- Your benefit coverage start date
- Your co-payment level
- Your Sun Life member card, once it arrives
When you book, confirm that the office accepts CDCP and bills Sun Life directly. Ask about any costs the plan does not cover. CDCP fees can be lower than what a provider charges, so you may pay a portion even with no co-payment.
The Port Dental Clinic is a registered CDCP provider, and under the plan Sun Life pays providers directly for covered services. Our insurance and CDCP page explains co-payment levels and what to expect at our NE Calgary clinic.
Some services need preauthorization, which means CDCP approves the service before treatment. Crowns are one example (canada.ca). Root canal treatment is listed as a covered service, and our guide to root canal cost with insurance and CDCP explains more. Orthodontic services are currently not available under the plan.
How to renew the CDCP every year
CDCP coverage runs for a benefit period that ends each June 30. You must renew every year to confirm you still qualify (canada.ca). The most recent renewal period closed on June 1, 2026. Renewals for the 2027 to 2028 benefit period open in spring 2027.
To renew, you and your partner must have filed your tax returns for the previous year and received your notices of assessment. Your partner must send their own renewal.
If you miss the renewal window, you can send a new application. Care you receive during the gap is not covered and is not paid back later. Filing your 2026 taxes early in 2027 helps you be ready.
When to call us
Book a visit once your coverage is active, or sooner if you notice any of these signs (CDA):
- Gums that bleed almost every time you brush or floss
- Teeth that are sensitive to hot, cold, sweets or pressure
- Bad breath that daily brushing and flossing do not fix
- A mouth sore that does not heal in 7 to 10 days
We offer same-day emergency appointments when possible. Outside clinic hours, call Health Link 811 for 24/7 advice from a registered nurse. Call 911 for trouble breathing or swallowing. Go to the nearest emergency department for facial swelling, fever or a facial injury.
CDCP application FAQ
Yes. Dental coverage through a provincial government program does not stop you from qualifying for CDCP. If you have both, the plans may coordinate your coverage so the same service is not paid twice.
No. Once your coverage has started, you can get care if you bring your CDCP member ID, a piece of identification, your coverage start date and your co-payment level.
Renewals for the 2027 to 2028 benefit period open in spring 2027. You need to have filed your 2026 tax return and received your notice of assessment before you renew.
Not at this time. Canada.ca says orthodontic services are currently not available under the CDCP.
Not always. Your co-payment depends on your adjusted family net income, and you may pay extra if the provider’s fee is higher than the CDCP fee. Ask for an estimate before treatment.
Once your coverage is active, see how we bill CDCP on our insurance and CDCP page. Book online or call 403-345-1110; our dentists speak English, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Nepali and Gujarati.